Edited by Susie Dent

Much loved for its wit and wisdom since 1870, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable takes you on a captivating adventure through its trademark blend of language, culture, myth and legend. As Susie Dent explains in the foreword, Brewer’s “is not a straightforward dictionary, nor is it an encyclopaedia. It is, in fact, unlike any other reference book that exists, anywhere.” This nineteenth edition encapsulates all the charm and wit that characterise its predecessors and maintains the standards of scholarship and eclecticism that have long been its hallmark.

Thoroughly updated with over 100 new and revised entries – think crowdsourcing, cyberpunk, iPad and mash-up – this unique resource is guaranteed to delight, entertain and inspire in the best Brewer’s tradition. Discover Brewer’s take on angels, heraldry, pub signs and recluses, and delve into the lexicographical world of the eggcorn. Whether you are a committed Brewerphile or a newcomer to its pages of fascinating entries, this edition will draw you in and keep you glued to its rich mix of eccentric nuggets.

Bibliographic Information

Publisher:

Chambers Harrap Publishers

Print Publication Date:

2012

Published online:

2013

Current Online Version:

2013

DOI:

10.1093/acref/9780199990009.001.0001

eISBN:

9780199990009

Author

Susie Dent,editor

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster, best known for being the regular face of Dictionary Corner on Channel 4 TV's Countdown. Her books include The Language Report (Oxford University Press, 2003-2007), Words of the Year (Oxford University Press, 2008), and What Made the Crocodile Cry? 101 Questions about the English Language (Oxford University Press, 2009).

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